Florida A&M University

Division of Student Affairs

Office of Admissions

Initial Classification of Residency for Tuition Purposes

General Information

An applicant applying for admission to Florida A&M University must complete a residency affidavit as part of the application for admission in order to declare Florida residency for tuition purposes. An initial determination of in-state or out-of-state residency status is made by the Admissions Office for tuition purposes. An applicant applying for admission as a dependent is required to provide information on the residency affidavit page for the parent or legal guardian. In accordance with Section 1009.21(3)(c)1. or 1009.21(3)(c)2., F.S and Board of Governor’s Regulations 7.005, Residency for Tuition Purposes the following procedure is established for classifying new applicants for residency.

Who Qualifies?

To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, the applicant (dependent or independent) must be a

1.U.S. Citizen, or

2.Permanent resident alien or a legal alien granted indefinite stay by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (This is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States) and

3.Person who established physical and legal residence in Florida for at least one year. “Evidence of legal residence and its duration shall include clear and convincing documentation that residency in this state was for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to a student’s initial enrollment in an institution of higher education (F. S. 1009.21). Students who do not meet this requirement cannot be classified as residents for tuition purposes.

Determination of Status - Independent or Dependent

An independent applicant will be required to submit his or her own documentation of residency while a dependent applicants will be required to submit his or her parent’s,spouse’s, or legal guardian’s documentation of residency.

Independent Student

A person who meets any one of the following criteria shall be classified as an independent student for the determination of residency for tuition purposes:

•The student is 24 years of age or older by the first day of classes of the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution.

•The student is married.

•The student has children who receive more than half of their support from the student.

•The student has other dependents that live with and receive more than half of their support from the student.

•The student is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces or is currently serving on active duty in the United States Armed Forces for purposes other than training.

•Both of the student’s parents are deceased or the student is or was (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court or in foster care.

•The student is working on a master’s or doctoral degree during the term for which residency status is sought at a Florida institution

•The student is classified as an independent student by the Financial Aid Office.

•The student is homeless as determined by the student’s high school or school district liaison.

•The student is a foster care/ward of the court as determined by a court in the student’s state of legal residence.

•Student submits documentation that he or she provides fifty (50) percent or more of the cost of attendance as defined by the financial aid office (federal, state, and institutional aid or scholarships are not included) for independent, in-state students.Clear and convincing evidence must be submitted to Florida A&M University.

Dependent Student

All other students who do not meet the above definition of an independent student shall be classified as dependent students for determination of residency for tuition purposes.

•Dependent person who has resided for five yearswith an adult relative other than my parent or legal guardian, and my relative or legal guardian has maintained legal residence in Florida for at least the past 12 consecutive months. (Required: Copies of tax returns on which you were claimed as a dependent during this period),

Documentation establishing legal residence in Florida by one of two means (must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which resident status is sought)

•Proof of purchase of a permanent home in Florida in which the student has resided for at least one year prior to the first day of classes

•Proof that the student has maintained residence in Florida for the preceding year (e.g., rent receipts, canceled checks or notarized statement from a landlord); AND

Establishment of Domicile

Documentation establishing bona fide domicile in Florida which is not temporary or merely incidental to enrollment in a Florida institution of higher education must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which resident status is sought. The following documents will be considered evidence of domicile;

Note: No single criteria will be considered as conclusive evidence of domicile:

•Florida voter’s registration card.

•Florida driver’s license.

•State of Florida identification card.

•Florida vehicle registration.

•Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s parent if the individual is a dependent child.

•Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.

•Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.

•Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.

No Contradicting Evidence

Students should not have conflicting evidence establishing or maintaining residence elsewhere.

Exception Categories for Temporary Florida Residency

Applicants who do not meet the 12-month requirement may qualify for temporary in-state status by qualifying under an exception category

•Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Florida and their spouse and dependents or military personnel not stationed in Florida whose home of record or state of legal residence certificate DD Form 2058 is Florida. (Present a copy of DD 2058, military orders, military identification, and leave & earning statement.)

•Married to a legal Florida resident and intend to make Florida a permanent home. (Present a copy of your marriage license and applicable documents for Florida spouse.)

•Full-time instructional or administrative employees of Florida public schools, community colleges, or institutions of higher education or their spouse and dependents (Present official letter from appropriate personnel from institution of employment and proof of relationship.)

•Part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship Program. Receive a scholarship from the U.S. Government (federal) or Florida state government. The student must attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education. (Offer letter and Student Award Notification.)

•Qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-Paid College Program. (Present a copy of the current Florida Prepaid recipient card.)

•Full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.

·McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens.

·United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enroll in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate.

·Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed.

·Active duty members of a foreign nation’s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed.

Change of Residency Status

A person who is classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes if that person is a dependent child or, his or her parent presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education. Such documentation may include but not limited to evidence of full-time permanent employment for the prior 12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an institution of higher education.

For more details please access the Florida Statutes website at http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2010/1009.21

Procedures

Students must submit the completed residency affidavit and supporting documents prior to the first day of classes as published to be considered for in-state status for that semester or session. Please see the university academic calendar for specific dates. If supporting documentation is not received at the time of admission students will be classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes.

Step 1: To apply for classification you must have resided in Florida at least twelve (12) months prior to initial enrollment.

Step 2: Complete the RESIDENCY AFFIDAVIT SECTION on the application or download and complete the RESIDENCY AFFIDAVIT FORM from the Admissions web page. This form should be submitted to the Admissions Office with your supporting documentations. At least one (1) additional document identified in Section 1009.21(3)(c)1. or 1009.21(3)(c)2., F.S., must be presented evidencing his or her parent’s legal residency in Florida. The supporting document indicated on the affidavit must be enlarged and information is clear.

Step 3: Obtain all supporting documentation: No single document will be considered as conclusive

•Florida voter’s registration card.

•Florida driver’s license.

•State of Florida identification card.

•Florida vehicle registration.

•Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s parent if the individual is a dependent child.

•Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.

•Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.

•Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period.

Supporting documents for temporary in-state status by qualifying under an exception category include

•Present a copy of DD 2058, military orders, military identification, and leave & earning statement.

·Married to a Legal Florida resident and intend to make Florida a permanent home. (Present a copy

of your marriage license and applicable documents for Florida spouse.)

•Official letter from appropriate personnel from institution of employment and proof of relationship for Full-time instructional or administrative employees of Florida public schools, community colleges, or institutions of higher education or their spouse and dependents

•Offer letter for part of the Latin American/Caribbean Scholarship Program.The student must attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education.

•A current copy of the Florida Prepaid recipient card for qualified beneficiary under the terms of the Florida Pre-Paid College Program.

•Official letter from appropriate personnel for Full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state whose student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.

•Offer letter for McKnight Doctoral Fellows and Finalists who are United States citizens.

•Official letter from appropriate personnel for United States citizens living outside the United States who are teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School or in an American International School and who enroll in a graduate level education program which leads to a Florida teaching certificate.

•Official letter from appropriate personnel for Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed.

•Official letter from appropriate personnel for Active duty members of a foreign nation’s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed.

NOTE: Living with relatives does not guarantee in-state classification for tuition purposes. Appropriate documentation must be on file to avoid paying the out-of-state tuition.